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Born Bethnal Green

The Battle of Mons August 23, 1914

This was the first battle fought by the British Army (BEF) in the war. Since landing in France ten days earlier the four infantry divisions and five cavalry brigades of the BEF had advanced to a position on the left flank of the French Armies only to find themselves directly in the line of the advance of the German First Army as they swept through Belgium and headed for Paris.

With orders to hold the German advance for 24 hours and outnumbered two to one, the BEF dug in along the Mons-Conde canal. The battle commenced at 9 am and lasted all day. By nightfall the BEF had withdrawn to a position along the Valenciennes-Maubeuge road, a position from which the Great Retreat began the next day. British casualties, killed, wounded or missing, amounted to 1600 for the battle. German casualties were higher.

Along with 4th Middlesex 4th Royal Fusiliers 9th Brigade 3rd Division held the Mons-Obourg salient on the right of the line, where the main German attack was focused. At 6 am shots were fired at approaching German patrols and between 8 and 9 am both battalions were shelled. This was followed by German infantry attacks supported by heavy artillery fire. The Germans advanced in close formation, shoulder to shoulder and rapid rifle fire drastically thinned their ranks. After that the Germans attacked more warily and their attack was extended along the whole line west of the salient. At 10 am massed ranks of Germans approached the 4th Royal Fusiliers positions but they were mown down. At 11 am they were still holding out but by 2 pm 4th Royal Fusiliers withdrew south from Nimy. They reformed in Mons and then moved south to Ciply, having suffered 100 casualties.